Berkeley’s Lazarus, football player, to Cal State Fresno

The Berkeley High BHS signing ceremony for Michael Lazarus took place earlier this week. Photo: Mark Coplan/BUSD

Berkeley High School celebrated National Letter of Intent Signing Day 2014 on Wednesday with a signing ceremony for Berkeley High football player Michael Lazarus. Lazarus was awarded an athletic scholarship at a Division I university, California State University, Fresno.

The young man’s mother, Neesa Lazarus, is also part of the Berkeley Unified School District family, working at John Muir Elementary School and Berkeley High as an American Sign Language interpreter, said Mark Coplan, school district spokesman.

“It was a very touching moment when Michael turned to her and said that the person he owed the most to was his mother, the person who had always been beside him,” said Coplan. “Neesa wasn’t the only parent in the room blinking back the tears.”

Michael’s sister, already away at university, watched the ceremony on Skype. In the photos you can see her on the laptop on the table, Coplan said.